“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.”
– Lamentations 3:22-23
In spite of how difficult life may seem today, or how dark it gets in your soul tonight, we are confident that the sun will rise tomorrow and a new day will be born! Scripture reminds us that God’s love and faithfulness is endless. His matchless promise is that He will be with us—through it all.
This week, as we entered into a new year, I received an email from my friend, Christine Bess. She has been a longtime co-laborer with Hope Haven Rwanda, serving in key board roles, hiring and coaching executive staff, praying and generously giving. Christine is often ready with a keen insight or provoking question. As the calendar shifted to a new year, she sent an inspirational note encouraging us to take a minute to reflect on what God has done.
With Christine’s permission, I’d like to share a few thoughts from her message, and I pray that you too will be inspired to ponder again how good our God is!
“Happy New Year! I typically don’t make new year’s resolutions or spend a lot of time looking “back,” but feel a little more reflective this year. Maybe it’s because it is a new decade, maybe it’s because I will be in a new “decade” this year with what some call a significant birthday.
I have been thinking about all of the LIFE that has taken place in my life and that of my immediate family, then I began thinking about all of you, special family and friends, and WOW we all have so much life that has happened in the past decade. New life, loved ones passing, children growing up, successes and life’s tough learning lessons, travel adventures, marriages, relationships that didn’t work out, relocations, careers…oh so many experiences.
My challenge for you is to take a few minutes, or hours, or days, and be conscious of all of the amazing, challenging, fun, rewarding, difficult, powerful, special, sad, joyful, etc., etc. events that have affected your life in the past decade. As you reflect on each milestone, I can almost guarantee many more will come to mind. Consider how God walked with you through each moment, how He guided you, how He revealed new mercies, how He revealed miracles and joy, maybe at times how He carried you through those moments and how you grew through each situation.
All of those experiences have led you to where you are today. There is no coincidence or “random” event. God has a plan for each one of us. Celebrate this new decade and look forward with expectation as God reveals exactly what He has in store for you, in His perfect timing.”